Dance Lessons
"Okay Aang, just put you hand on my waist like this, and take my other hand."
"Uh…"
"Oh come, come. Don't tell me the Avatar is afraid of touching a girl."
Aang grimaced inwardly. It wasn't that he was afraid of touching girls. He was afraid of touching Azula.
"Here, like this," the Fire Princess grabbed him and pressed the palm of his left hand against the curve of her waist. She stepped closer, her chest brushing lightly against his. He could have sworn he just heard her purr.
She smirked up at him. "Now, watch my feet. Forward two steps, back two, right two, left two, and you start the pattern over again. Got it?"
"Uh…"
"Maestro," she snapped to the string quartet in the empty ballroom. The first violin nodded and the band began a sweet waltz.
Aang fumbled, unable the stop the blush rising up his neck as he took his first step forward and felt the curves of the Firebending prodigy's supple form press into him. He could sense her yellow, steely eyes on his face, watching his reaction to her as they moved haltingly about the dance floor. The more Aang thought about those curves – which Zuko's sister had been increasing swishing and swaying his way – the more he blushed, and the more he fumbled, until he finally tripped on his own feet and stumbled backwards. Azula let go and watched him land on his butt.
She huffed, squeezing her temples irately. "Aang, we have to get this right! The wedding's in a few short weeks, and we'll be expected to dance together as the maid of honour and the best man. What kind of Avatar are you that you've never learned how to dance?"
"He's the kind of Avatar that had to master all four elements in one year," Sokka appeared, arms crossed over his chest. "Cut him some slack. Fire Nation dances are hard."
Azula's scowl was replaced by a nasty smirk. "Of course they'd look that way to you. I'd forgotten you Southern Water Tribe rubes hardly have any culture where you're from. I suppose any dance would look difficult to you."
Sokka frowned. "I can so dance!" He said indignantly. "In fact, I've been getting lessons."
"From who? Uncle Iroh?"
"Among others," Sokka said proudly. "Everyone thought it would be good for training and coordination. And I've gotten pretty good at them, too."
"Wait, Sokka, are you telling me, you've been dancing?" Aang sniggered.
Sokka ignored him, his indignation focused on his soon-to-be sister-in-law. "So how about it 'Zula? Care to tango?"
The Firebender raised her chin. "You could never outdo me, peasant." She met Sokka toe to toe in the centre of the dance floor, hands on her hips, while he narrowed his eyes at her, arms still folded over his chest. Aang scuttled off the floor as Azula nodded sharply to the string quartet. They began a violent, sensual tune and Sokka roughly grabbed the princess around the waist, pressing against her. She looked shocked for a moment, but the Water Tribe warrior's face remained stoic, almost angry. The Firebender's eyes lit up, hungry for the challenge, and she threw her hands sharply up in the air.
Sokka seized her outstretched wrist and wrenched her downwards, pulling her into a deep dip, which Azula easily bent into. He brought her up just as sharply and flung her outwards, still grasping her wrist. She snapped to a stop, taking a wide stance, then tugged him forward. He smoothly stepped into the dance form and spun the princess around, hands tracing down her sides to grasp her waist, her hips thrust against his. He shoved her away and Azula splayed out on the floor, swinging one leg out and springing back to her feet to meet the Water boy as his arms circled around her form in time to the music, his face twisted into a look of intense dislike.
Aang watched fascinated as the two whirled around each other, completely unashamed of where their hands landed. A small part of the Avatar's mind reminded him that Sokka's sister and Azula's brother were getting married in a few short weeks, and was this really appropriate? But he was too enthralled by the sensual spar-dance to break it up.
Sokka lithely spun around to stand behind the Fire girl, his lips pressed against her ear as they corkscrewed their hips. Azula tore away and held the boy at arms length, one dainty finger nail trailing around the skin of his neck until he grabbed her again, spun the Firebending prodigy once and pulled her into his arms before grabbing her around the waist and lifting her above his head.
They finished the tune with a rapid and complicated set of steps, twirls and dips Aang could never hope to remember. The final, lingering note ended with Azula splayed out on the floor, Sokka standing over her.
Aang clapped and whistled, leaping to his feet. "Wow Sokka! That was awesome!"
The Water Tribe boy heard his friend faintly, but his eyes were locked on the Firebending princess below him. They were both panting hard, cheeks flushed.
"Well, princess, how was that?" he smirked.
Azula pursed her lips, her eyes flickering back and forth as she sought an excuse, a flaw in his performance. She finally sneered up at him.
"One hair out of place."
Sokka's eyes widened as he stared cross eyed at the loose lock dangling between his eyes. He roughly tucked it back and held out a hand to the Firebender.
"Again," he said.
Azula smiled nastily and took the Water boy's hand.
Aang sighed. I guess that's the end of dance lessons for me.
